Air exhauster for dry-pipe systems



Aug. 12, 1924. 1,504,811

H. G; CARP-SON AIR EXHAUSTER FOR DRY PIPE SYSTEMS Original Filed Aug. 10. 1920 Patented Aug. 12, 1924.

UNITED STATES mean PATENT OFFICE.

HJALMAR G. CARLSON, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO ROCKWOOD SPRINKLER COMPANY OF MASSACHUSETTS, 0F WORCESTER, IIIASSACHUSETTS, A

CORPORATION O'F MASSACHUSETTS.

AIR nxneusrnn 'roia DRY-PIPE SYSTEMS.

Application filed August 10, 1920, Serial 1 To. J=02,5-"/9. Renewed. June 30, 1924.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, HJALMAR G. CARLsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Air Exhauster for Dry-Pipe Sysfollowing is a specifica sufficient pressure to exclude water from the system, so long as. all sprinklers remain closed, When a sprinkler opens, air commonly escapes through'the open sprinklers,

, and water flows in to fill the opened pipe and operate the sprinkler.

It is 10f course desirable that the water should replace the air in thepipe in the shortest interval of 'timeafterthesprinkler opens and also that the air should escape in such a mannerthat it will not quicken the fireor scatter sparks therefrom.

It isthe general object of my invention to provide an exhaust device for dry pipe systems, by which this desirable end may be effectively attained. With this general object in view, an important feature of my invention relates to the provision of an ex haust chamber directly connected .to the dry pipe system, an exhaust valve for said chamher, and pressure controlled devices. for

opening said valve. A further feature of .my invention relates to the provision of a second or air storage chamber preferably adjacent said exhaust chamber, the valve opening devices being controlled by relative difference in pressure between said chambers.

,My invention further relates to certain arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described, and more par ticularly pointed outin the appended claims. A. preferred form of my invention is shown in the drawing which is a sectional elevation, of my novel air. exhauster, certain parts of the pipe system being also indicated.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown my invention applied to ,a sprinkler system comprising the usual main distributing pipe or riser 10 from which branch distributing pipes 11 conveywater to the sprinkler heads,

one of which is shown at 12. I have also therein. An unobstructed inlet pipe 18 connects the pipe 13 to the exhaust chamber 16, the exhaust chamber being also provided with an exhaust pipe 19 normally closed by an exhaust valve 20 mounted on a valve frame 21 pivoted at 22 to the casing 15. v

The chambers 16 and 17 are separated by a diaphragm 23 on which is mounted a valve lifter 24. The upper end of the lifter 24 is positioned to engage a cap 25 threaded in 'an extension of the valve frame 21 and held in adjustment by a set screw 26. The valve lifter 24 is provided with a restricted passage or bleed opening 27, communicating at its lower end with the chamber 17 and at its upper end with the chamber 16. A drip valve 28 of the usual type is also provided for the storage chamber 17.

Having described the details of construction of my improved air exhauster, I will now describe the operation thereof. Under normal conditions, the valve 20 is firmly seated to close the exhaust pipe 19, and the cap 25 is slightly removed from the end of the lifter 24:. Theexhaust chamber 16 is also normally'filled with water up to the level of the inlet connection 18. The air in the exhaust chamber 16 is of the same pressure as the air in the dry pipe system, commonly from fortyto fifty lbs. per square inch, and the air in the chamber 17 is also at the same pressure, due to the free connection through the bleed opening 27 between the two chambers.

Assuming that a'sprinkler 12is opened, air will escape through the sprinkler head more rapidly than air can flow from the storage chamber 17 through the bleed opening 27 to the exhaust chamber 16. The pressure in the chamber 16 willtherefore fall below that of the chamber 17, with resulting upward movement of the diaphragm 23.

Such movement will force the valve lifter further reduction in pressure in the storage 7 chamber 17. In the second place, the cap V is moved upward, carrying with it the valve frame 21 and the exhaust valve .20, thus jopening' the exhaust pipe 19, through which air'vvill escape from the dry pipe system With great celerity. 7 As the air escapes through'the pipe 19,

1 Water enters the'system through the riser 10.

When'this is filled, a portion ofthe Water 'flovvs into the return pipe 13 and through --.the inlet pipe 18 to the exhaust chamber 16.

. The Water rushing into. the chamber 16 v Water is shut off ingthe vv'ater'in'the pipe '13 and also draining the exhaust. chamber 16' down to the level of the inlet pipe 18. The Water re- .maining in the chamber 16 is of advantagein sealing the valve '14. Any slight leakage through the bleed opening 27 may be re- 7 moved fromithe chamber 17 by opening the valve: 28. fThevalves 14 and 28 are then It Will thus'appear closed," restoring the parts to their original position and condition. The air pressure may be thereafter restored to "the desired normal pressure.

that the greater part of the air; displaced in the} pipe system is quickly removed therefrom through "the exhaust valve 20, which should be at a point remote from the sprinkler heads 12, so that no injurious efiects will be caused thereby.

My improved construction is remarkablefor its extreme simplicity, the number of mov-' ing partsbeing'reduced'to a minimum. It Will also be noticed that no resetting of the apparatus is necessary, other than the open:

ing of the valves 1 1 and 28 toj'drain the Water out of thesystem.

" Having thus described my invention it Will'be evident that changes and modificaj tions can be madetherein by those skilled in the art Within the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the claims, and I do not Wish to be otherwise limited to the details herein disclosed, but Whatl I claim 1. An air exhauster fordry pipe systems,

" system, said chamber having also an exhaust opening, a valve for closing said exhaust 'jopening,an air storage chamber, and means r to open and close said valve, sa1d valve be opened by excess air pressure in said exhau t c amber.

storage chamberand being closed upon the occurrence of excess 311'" pressure in said 2. An air exhauster for dry pipe systems comprising an air exhaust chamber, an inlet connection to said chamber from said pipe system, said chamber having also an exhaust opening, a valve for closing said exhaust opening, and air pressure operating means to actuate'said valve, said inlet connection affording a free and unobstructed passage at all times between said pipe system and said exhaust chamber.

3. An air exhauster for dry pipe systems comprising an air exhaust chamber, an inlet connection to said chamber from said pipe system, said chamber having also an exhaust openlng, a valve to close said exhaust opening, an air storage chamber, a lifter for said valve actuated by a relative difference in pressure between said chambers, said lifter having a bleed opening therethrough connecting said chambers, and means to close said opening when said exhaust valve is opened.

4. An air exhauster for dry pipe systems comprising an air exhaust chamber, an inlet connection to said chamber from said pipe system, said chamber having also an exhaust opening, a valve to close said exhaust opening, an air storage chamber, a diaphragm separating said chambers, and means actuated by said diaphragm and rendered effective by difference in air pressure in said. chambers to actuate said valve directly.

5'. An air exhauster for dry pipe systems,

comprising an air exhaust chamber having 'inletiand exhaust connections, an exhaust valve insaid chamber, an air storage chain ber having a bleed opening connected with said exhaust chamber, a 'dia hragm separating said chambers, and a va ve lifter on said diaphragmefl'ective to open said exhaust valve upon relative decrease of' pressure in said exhaust chamber.

6. An air exhauster for dry'pipe systems,

comprising an air exhaust chamber, inlet and exhaust passages for said chamber, a

'valve for said exhaust passage, a frame for:

said valve movably mounted in Saidchamber, pressure-controlled means to move said frame and valve, and a contact member adjustably secured to said frame for engagement by said moving means.

7, An air exhauster for dry pipe systems comprisingan air exhaust chamber, an inlet connection to said chamber from said'pipe system, said chamber having also an exhaust 0 opening, a valveto close said exhaust open -g ing, and means to open and close said valve, said valve being positioned so as to be normally covered with water in said exhaust chamber.

8. An air exhauster for dry pipe systems; comprising an air exhaust chamber, an inlet connection to'sai'd chamber from said pipe system, said chamber having also an exhaust 7 opening, a valve to close said exhaust opening, and means to open and close said valve,

said inlet connection being higher than said opening, a valve to close said exhaust open- 10 mg, and means to actuate said valve, said inlet connections being higher than said valve and means being provided to drain said chamber above said inlet connections.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto 15 afiixed my signature.

HJALMAR G. CARLSON. 

